Removable spring mount for ear rings



NOV. 8, 1955 I EBERTJN 2,722,811

REMOVABLE SPRING MOUNT FOR EAR RINGS Filed May 11, 1955 INVENTOR.

eoges 256111211 United States Patent REMOVABLE SPRING MOUNT FOR EAR RINGS Georges Ebertin, New York, N. Y.

Application May 11, 1953, Serial No. 354,155

2 Claims. (Cl. 63-14) This invention relates to ear rings and similar articles of jewelry, and particularly to means by which movable or pivoted parts of the article are maintained in the several positions required for either maintaining the ear ring on the ear in position of wear, or removing the same therefrom.

Many ear rings in use at the present time are composed of several pivotally connected parts which, when brought together, clamp the lobe of the ear between them. The ear ring is removed from the ear by pivotally separating these parts. It is therefore desirable that means be provided by which the pivotally connected parts shall be retained in the several positions in which they are placed by the user, until manually shifted. It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a means by which this result shall be attained.

It is another object of the invention to provide an ear ring with front and back sections pivotally connected together, and maintained in either open or closed position by the employment of a single spring. It is an object of the invention to provide an ear ring having the means above mentioned, with the several parts of the device capable of being assembled in operative relationship without requiring the use of soldering operations or other expensive and time-consuming steps. It is another object of the invention to provide an ear ring so constructed that the same may be either attached to the ear or can serve as a clip for attachment to the dress or other garment of a wearer.

More particularly, the invention contemplates the provision of an ear ring having front and back sections pivotally connected together, and having a leaf spring operative upon at least one of the parts in a manner to hold said part in its open position relative to the other part or else hold the parts in their closed position.

With these and other objects to be hereinafter set forth in view, I have devised the arrangement of parts to be de scribed and more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein an illustrative embodiment of the invention is disclosed,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the ear ring in its open position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the ear ring, looking at the opposite face of the same, and with a part shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a face view of the frame, showing the several pins in place therein;

Fig. 4 is a face view of the spring, looking at the rear face of the same;

Fig. 5 is an edge view of the spring;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the clamping finger;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the ear ring, with the several hinged parts in open or extended position;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 88 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified construction, and

Fig. 10 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing, 1' indicates generally the back member of the ear ring, or that portion of the same which fits flatly against the back face of the lobe of the ear. The same, in the form shown, consists of a loop 2 from which projects a pair of substantially parallel legs 3 and 4 reinforced by across bar 30. Extending transversely of the frame 1 and connecting the legs 3 and 4 is a pin 5, located substantially centrally of the legs. Said pin is surrounded by a sleeve 6 which is secured to, or may form an integral part of, a fiat spring 7. This arrangement is such as to position the spring 7 along a face of the legs 3 and 4 and substantially close the space between the same.

At the free ends of the legs 3 and 4 is a transverse pivot pin 8, which also extends between and connects the legs. Pivotally mounted upon this pin 8 is a curved or arcuate lug 9 which forms the bridge of the ear ring and also a portion of the front part thereof, and to which the ornamental or decorative part of the ear ring is mounted or set, such ornamental or decorative part being omitted from the drawing for clearness in illustration. Adjacent to the pivot 8, the lug 9 is formed with a substantially square hub 10. The hub has two fiat surfaces, indicated respectively at 11 and 12, arranged at right angles to one another and against either of which one end portion of the flat spring 7 is adapted to be resiliently held to thereby hold the lug 9 in either one of two pivotal positions. One of these positions is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and is that in which the parts occupy when the ear ring is being removed, or is in position to be put on the ear. At that time, the end portion 31 of the spring 7 is in contact with the fiat surface 12 of the hub 10. The second pivotal position of the lug 9 is that shown in Figs. 7 and 8 which is that in which the ear ring is in its closed or clamping position at which time the lobe of the ear is being clampingly held between the loop 2 and the ornament that is attached to the lug 9. A this time, the end portion of the spring is resiliently held against the flat surface 11 of the hub 10, as seen in Fig. 8. The lug 9 can be pivotally moved to either of the above positions by manual force suflicient to overcome the pressure of the spring against either of the surfaces 11 and 12. However, when the spring is operative against either of such surfaces, its pressure is ample to hold the lug 9 in either its open position or its closed position until manually shifted.

Adjacent to the point where the legs 3 and 4 join the loop 2 is provided a third cross pin indicated at 13, and this pin constitutes a pivot for a pivotally-mounted claw-like clamping finger 14, shown in detail in Fig. 6. The same consists of a curved plate member 15, terminating in a pair of prongs 16 and 17, and a substantially square hub 18. The hub is provided with the two flat surfaces 19 and 20, and the second end portion of the spring, or that portion indicated at 21, is adapted to rest against either one of these surfaces according to the pivotal position of the clamping finger 14. That is to say, when the finger 14 is in its open or extended position shown in Fig. 7 and in dotted lines in Fig. 8, the end portion 21 of the spring 7 will be rested against the surface 20, and when the finger is in its closed position, or that shown in full lines in Fig. 8, the spring will then be in contact with the flat surface indicated at 19. The engagement of the end portion 21 of the spring with either of these surfaces is sufficient to hold the clamping finger in either of the two positions, as above described.

The clamping finger 14 is adapted for use in attaching the ear ring to a dress when it is desired to use it as an ornament on a garment, as distinguished from its use as an ear ring. In using the ear ring in the normal manner, that is, on the lobe of the ear, the clamping finger 14 is maintained in the closed positionshown in Fig. 8 and thus will not contact with the surface of the ear.

By means of the arrangement shown, the spring 7 is pp e to e ear r n n. was; w i 9 5, not r ui s d r n e er me ns.- r mea tns t It is merely placed with its sleeve 6 surrounding the. cen-. tral. t s Pin n w th. it O o it n i ili t Q9 tact with the. fiatte ed. surfaces on the hubs 1 ar dv 18. which have also been pivotally mounted, on their respecthe pivot pins, and, the assembly of the device completed. Thus, the assembly of the ear ring is not only simple, but repair or replacement of any. of the parts of thesame is greatly facilitated.

In e mb imen of e ntiqn i t sa hsdr spring 7 is, stated. to. have. its opposite end portions each engagingthe hub of a pivoted member. Incase. the clampns' 'ns i lg ns w th h p n 7 ma b ployedfor resilient pressure against one hub only, as is disclosed in the structure illustrated, in Figs. 9. and 10-.

Therein, the spring 7 is mounted, on a centrally located pivot pin and has'one end in engagement with the lug, 9 in the manner; previously described with respect, to the structure. shown in Figs. 1 toti. However, in the embodiment of Figs. 9 and 10 the second end of the spring, or that indicated at, 2 2, rests. against a fixed part of the frame 1, indicated at 23. This part is, shown as being formed with any enlargement 24 formed with a threaded hole. 25 which threadably receives a. screw 26. The screw has a rounded head 27 at one end. and which is urged against the lobe of the ear to fasten the. ear ring in place. on the ear, by manipulation, of the knurled disk 28 provided on the opposite end of the screw 26 The part 24 need not necessarily be provided with the screw 26, unless an ear ring of the adjustable type is desired.

While I have herein described an embodiment of the in- Q vention, it is obvious that. the same is. not to be limited thereto, but is broad enough to cover all structures coming within the scope of the annexed, claims.

What I claim is:

1. In. a. combined ear ring and ornament, a clip comprising, aloop-shaped framecomprising one of the clamping, elementsof the clip, said. frame having spaced-apart legs, a. lug constituting the. second clamping element and having a square hub pivoted at one end of the frame between the legs, a pin extending across the frame between the legs thereof and having its ends entering said legs, a sleeve fitted about the pin, a leaf spring attached to the sleeve, said leaf spring having an end portion resiliently operative against one or the other of the surfaces of the square hub to thereby hold the lug in either an open or closed position relatively to the frame, the spring and the sleeve attached thereto being detachable as a unit from the frame by removal of the pin, a cross member extending across the frame remotely from the lug, the spring having a second end in, resilient contact with the cross member, the sleeve to which the spring is attached being secured to the spring between the. ends of said spring.

2. In an ear ring, a clip including a loop-shaped frame consisting of a loop and two spaced legs extending therefrom, said frame constituting one of the clamping elements of the clip, a central pin extending across the frame and having its ends, inserted. in the. legs, a flat spring to which a. tube is transversely attached, said tube being removably fitted around. the pin, an end; pin, extending between and connecting the. legs, a clamping member pivoted on said end pin and movable to co-operate with the frame in clamping, the ear between said frame and. clamping memher, said clamping member having a, plurality of flat surfaces against which the spring selectively rests to hold the clamping member in. one or the other of two positions relatively to. the frame, and, means, engaging the opposite end of the spring,- to prevent shifting. movement of the spring, the spring and'the tube to, which, it, is attached beingremovable as a unit from the frame upon removal of pin aroundwhich the; tube is. fitted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES BATEN'LS 474,537 Steele May 10, 1892 1,087,015 Heylmun. Feb. 10, 1914 1,143,749 Clarke June 22, 1915- 1,527,040 Garrison Feb. 17, 1925 2,501,754 Battiste Mar. 28, 1950 2,510,250- Pereira et. al; June 6, 1950 

